Apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for forming a web of said material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for forming a web of such material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials, wherein, in addition to two systems of longitudinal conveyors and a pair of aligned transverse conveyors disposed under these two systems of longitudinal conveyors, there are provided a device for turning a lap of fibrous material by 90*, disposed above the second one of the two systems of longitudinal conveyors, and a pair of additional conveyors. One of these two additional conveyors is inclined toward the transverse conveyor which is disposed under the first system of longitudinal conveyors and is itself disposed intermediate the two systems of longitudinal conveyors, the other of these two additional conveyors being disposed between the device for turning the lap of fibrous material by 90* and the second one of the two systems of longitudinal conveyors, the direction of travel of this last-mentioned one of the two additional conveyors being opposite to that of the topmost one of the conveyors of the second system.

United States Patent L00 et al.

[54] APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARDED WEB OF SAID MATERIAL [72] Inventors: Madls Valdurovlch Loo, Mustamyae tee' 173, kv. 34; Argo Alexandrovlch Slllaots, ulitsa Keemne, 6; Jury-Eduard Khansovlch Kekhler, ulitsa Tekhnika 99, kv. 6, all of Tallin, USSR.

[22] Filed: May 8, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 823,015

[52] U.S. Cl. ..19/161 R [51] Int. Cl. ..D04h 11/04 [58] Fleld oISearch ..l9/65,161,l63, 160,155; 156/374, 377, 554; 198/182, 157, 75,102

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 188,495 3/1877 Batty ,.l9/163 2,237,049 4/1941 Cavedon ..19/163 FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR FORMING A FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 8/196 0 France ..19/161 51 Mar. 28, 1972 897,089 11/1953 Germany ..19/65 Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney-Waters, Roditi & Schwartz [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for fonning a web of such material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials, wherein, in addition to two systems'of longitudinal'conveyors and a pair of aligned transverse conveyors disposed under these two systems of longitudinal conveyors, there are provided a device for turning a lap of fibrous material by 90", disposed above the second one of the two systems of longitudinal conveyors, and a pair of additional conveyors. One of these two additional conveyors is inclined toward the transverse conveyor which is disposed under the first system of longitudinal conveyors and is itself disposed intermediate the two systems of longitudinal conveyors, the other of these two additional conveyors being disposed between the device for turning the lap of fibrous material by 90 and the second one of the two systems of longitudinal conveyors, the direction of travel of this last-mentioned one of the I two additional conveyors being opposite to that of the topmost one of the conveyors of the second system.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972 3351543 FIG? APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARDED FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR FORMING A WEB OF SAID MATERIAL The present invention relates to machinery and apparatus, used in the textile industry, and, more particularly, it relates to apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials for forming a web, or lap of such material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials.

One known kind of apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials for forming a web, or lap to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials comprises two systems of longitudinal conveyors and a pair of axially aligned transverse conveyors, disposed, respectively, under the first and the second system of longitudinal conveyors.

Such fiber-treating apparatus is adapted to be installed immediately following a pair of carding engines and uses the fibers supplied by these engines for forming a lap in which the fibers extend laterally of this lap. A lap of this kind is most suitable for the production of nonwoven materials with an internal layer of reinforcing fabric, or else for the production of nonwoven textile materials by a stitching-and-knitting method, where the tensile strength of such material in the Iongitudinal direction is due to the presence of the stitching threads.

However, in order to produce a web or lap of fibrous material, which should be of adequate tensile strength both in the longitudinal and lateral directions thereof, without any reinforcing internal layer and without any subsequent treatment on stitching-and-knitting machines, it is necessary that the fibers in such web, or lap extend in perpendicular directions. The above-described apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials has a construction which makes it virtually unable to produce a lap with fibers extending in perpendicular directions.

There is yet another known type of apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials, which is adapted to produce multiply webs, or laps, wherein the fibers in the successive layers extend in perpendicular directions. However, the fiber-treating apparatus of this type cannot produce laps with purely laterally extending fibers, which, as it has been stated, are most suitable for the production of nonwoven materials by the stitching-and-knitting method, as well as for the production of needle-punched nonwoven materials with an internal reinforcing structure. Moreover, this apparatus is bulky and occupies a large amount of floor space in production shops, on account of the U, L" or T shaped arrangement of their fibertransporting conveyors.

The prior art has not yet known any apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials, which would be capable of forming selectively both laps with fibers extending exclusively in a lateral direction and also multi-ply laps in which fibers extend in perpendicular directions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for forming a web of such material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials, which is capable of forming both webs, or laps with laterally extending fibers, aswell as muIti-ply webs, or laps with fibers extending in perpendicular directions.

With this and other objects in view, the present invention resides in an apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for forming a web of such material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials, comprising two systems of Iongitudinal conveyors and two transverse conveyors, axially aligned with each other, each one of said two axially aligned transverse conveyors being disposed under the respective one of said two systems of longitudinal conveyors, in which apparatus, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for turning the direction of the feed of a lap of fibrous material by 90, said device being disposed above the second one of said two systems of longitudinal conveyors; and two additional conveyors; one of said two additional conveyors being inclined toward that one of said two transverse conveyors which is disposed under the first one of said two systems of longitudinal conveyors, said one additional conveyor being disposed intennediate said two systems of longitudinal conveyors, above said two transverse conveyors; the other one of said two additional conveyors being disposed intermediate said lap-turning device and said second one of said two systems of longitudinal conveyors, said second one of said two additional conveyors being adapted to travel in operation in a direction opposite to that of the topmost one of the conveyors of said second one of said two systems of longitudinal conveyors.

The provision of the known fiber-treating and lap-forming apparatus with the two additional conveyors and the device for turning the direction of the feed of a lap of fibrous material by enables such improved apparatus to produce not only webs, or laps with fibers extending laterally of the laps, but also muIti-ply webs, or laps with fibers extending in perpendicular directions..ln a preferred embodiment of the present invention the upper end portion of said inclined additional conveyor is pivotally connected to the supporting structure of said device for changing the direction of the feed of a lap of fibrous material by 90, whereas the bottom end portion of said inclined additional conveyor is carried by the supporting structure of that one of said two transverse conveyors which is disposed under the first one of said two systems of longitudinal conveyors, by means of a mechanism providing for adjusting the position of said bottom end portion in a vertical plane.

This adjustment makes it possible to raise the bottom portion of the inclined additional conveyor, whereby the apparatus can be used for producing a web, or lap with laterally extending fibers.

Alternatively, when the bottom end portion of said inclined additional conveyor is lowered into its operating position, the apparatus produces multi-ply webs, or laps withfibers in the successive layers extending in perpendicular directions.

Additionally, the arrangement of the inclined conveyor above the transverse conveyors, and .the disposition of the lapturning device and of the other one of said two additional conveyors above the second system of longitudinal conveyors have made it possible to locate these novel portions practically within the existing dimensions of existing apparatus, which is improved by the present invention.

Thus, the dimensions of a fiber-treating lap-forming apparatus, embodying the present invention, are practically not greater than those of the existing apparatus which is able to produce merely laps with fibers extending laterally thereof. On the other hand, as compared with the both known kinds of apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials for forming a web, or lap to be used in the production of nonwoven materials, the apparatus, embodying the present invention, features sharply increased versatility thanks to its being able to produce both webs, or laps with laterally extending fibers and webs, or laps wherein fibers extend in perpendicular directions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for treating carded fibrous material, embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows schematically the respective directions of the travel of the second system of longitudinal conveyors and of the additional conveyor in the apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials, embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials for the production of nonwoven textile materials, embodying the invention, comprises two systems, 1 and 2 (FIG. 1), of longitudinal conveyors, arranged parallel to each other and disposed immediately following the respective carding engines (not shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). The apparatus also comprises two transverse conveyors, 3 and 4, aligned with one another. The conveyor 3 underlies the first system I of longitudinal conveyors, whereas the conveyor 4 underlies the second system 2 of longitudinal conveyors.

The apparatus for treating fibrous materials, described herein, also includes a device 5 for changing the direction of the feed of the web of carded fibrous material by 90, disposed above the system 2 of longitudinal conveyors, and a pair ofadditional conveyors 6 and 7, of which the conveyor 6 is inclined toward the transverse conveyor 3 and disposed intermediate the systems 1 and 2 of longitudinal conveyors, while the other additional conveyor 7 is disposed intermediate the system 2 of longitudinal conveyors and the device 5 for turning the carded web by 90.

The raised end portion of the inclined additional conveyor 6 is pivotally attached to the supporting structure of the device 5 for turning the carded web by 90, whereas the bottom end portion of the conveyor 6 is supported by the supporting structure of the transverse conveyor 3 and can be adjusted in a vertical plane by means of an adjusting mechanism including an externally threaded member, or screw 8, threadedly engaged with a nut 9, and a hollow sleeve received around the upper portion of the screw 8. The bottom portion of the screw 8 is pivotally connected with the supporting frame of the transverse conveyor 3, the upper end portion of the hollow sleeve 10 is pivotally connected with the supporting frame of the inclined additional conveyor 6, and the bottom end portion of the hollow sleeve 10 bears against the nut 9.

The first system 1 of longitudinal conveyors incorporates a topmost conveyor-11, a compensating conveyor 12 and a laplaying conveyor 13, the topmost conveyor 11 being associated with a driving chain (not shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) which transmits motion to the compensating conveyor 12 and laplaying conveyor 13.

The system 2 of longitudinal conveyors likewise incorporates a topmost conveyor 14, a compensating conveyor and a lap-laying conveyor 16, the topmost conveyor 14 being associated with a driving chain 17 (FIG. 3) which transmits motion to the compensating conveyor 15 and the lap-lying conveyor 16, the same driving chain 17 transmitting motion through a clutch 18 to the additional conveyor 7, so that the direction of travel of the latter is opposite to that of the topmost conveyor 14.

Disposed intermediate the inclined additional conveyor 6 (FIG. 1) and the system 1 of the longitudinal conveyors, above the transverse conveyor 3 is a mechanism 19 for unrolling and spreading a reinforcing woven fabric supplied thereto.

The respective driving shafts of the topmost conveyors l1 and 14 of the systems 1 and 2 receive driving torque from the respective carding engines (not shown in the drawings) through the chain transmissions 20 and 21 (FIG. 2). Rotation is transmitted from these driving shafts, e.g., in the system 2 from the shaft of the conveyor 14, through a chain transmission 22 (FIG. 3) to the driving chain 23 of the bottommost conveyor, to Motion is transmitted in the system 1 of the longitudinal conveyors in a similar manner (not illustrated in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 3).

Motion is transmitted from the driving shaft of the topmost conveyor 14 of the system 2 through a variable speed gear 24 (FIG. 2), a reducer 25 and driving chains 26, 27 and 28 to the driving shaft of the transverse conveyor 4.

Motion is transmitted to the driving shaft of the inclined conveyor 6 from the driving shaft of the additional conveyor 7 through a bevel gear couple 29.

When a web with laterally extending fibers is to be produced, motion is transmitted to the driving shaft of the transverse conveyor 3 from the driven shaft of the transverse conveyor 4 through a chain transmission 30. In case a multiply web with fibers in the successive laps, or layers extending in perpendicular directions is to be produced, motion is transmitted to the driving shaft of the transverse conveyor 3 from the driving shaft of the inclined conveyor 6 through a chain transmission 31 (FIG. 1).

The reinforcing fabric unrolling and spreading mechanism 19 receives motion from the driving shaft of the transverse conveyor 3 through a chain transmission 32.

The herein described apparatus for treating carded fibrous materials, embodying the invention, operates, as follows.

When a web with fibers extending laterally thereof is to be produced, the lower end portion of the inclined conveyor 6 is raised into its lifted adjusted position by rotating the adjustment nut 9 about the screw 8 in a corresponding direction. The transverse conveyor 3 is connected via the chain transmission 30 to the transverse conveyor 4, and the clutch 18 (FIG. 2) is disengaged, for the additional conveyors 6 and 7 to receive no driving torque through the chain 17 (FIG. 3).

In case a web incorporating a woven reinforcing fabric is to be produced, the fabric unrolling and spreading mechanism 19 (FIG. 1) is connected via the chain transmission 32 to the driving shaft of the transverse conveyor 3. According to this mode of operation, a reel with woven reinforcing fabric is mounted into the mechanism 19, and the latter places the fabric being unwound from this reel onto the moving conveyors 3 and 4, for the fabric to serve as a reinforcing structure for the web being produced.

Carded fibrous material with longitudinally extending fibers is supplied by the first carding engine (not shown) onto the topmost conveyor 11 of the first system 1 of the longitudinal conveyors, wherefrom it is transferred onto the compensating conveyor 12 and then is further transferred onto the lap-laying conveyor 13 which places the fibrous material upon the transverse conveyor 3. The linear speed of the transverse conveyor 3 being several times smaller than that of the longitudinal conveyors of the first system 1, a thick layer, or lap of the carded fibrous material is formed thereon.

Because the transverse conveyor 3 is mounted for travel at right angles to the longitudinal conveyors of the first system 1, the carded fibrous material is laid thereon with the fibers extending laterally of the conveyor 3. The transverse conveyor 3 carries the lap onto the transverse conveyor 4, onto which the second system 2 of the longitudinal conveyors places the second lap of carded fibrous material, overlying the first lap and also having the fibers extending in a lateral direction, in a manner similar to that described for the first system 1 of the longitudinal conveyors. When desired, a reinforcing woven fabric may be interlaid between the two laps by means of the fabric unrolling and spreading mechanism 19.

When a multi-ply web of fibrous material is to be produced, having the fibers in the successive layers, or laps extending in perpendicular directions, the lower end portion of the inclined conveyor 6 is lowered into its bottom operating position. The transverse conveyor 3 and the inclined conveyor 6 are drivingly connected with each other via the chain transmission 31. The chain transmissions 30 and 32 are disconnected, and the clutch 18 is engaged, for motion to be transmitted from the driving chain 17 of the system 2 of the longitudinal conveyors to the additional conveyors 6 and 7. Consequently, the linear speed of the transverse conveyor 3 is made equal to those of the inclined conveyor 6, of the additional conveyor 7 and of the longitudinal conveyors of the system 2. As a result, a thin veil-like web of fibrous material is formed on the transverse conveyor 3, with the fibers extending laterally of the conveyor.

This thin web of the fibrous material is picked off the conveyor 3 by the inclined conveyor 6 which carries the web onto the device 5 which changes the direction of the feed of the web by and thus transfers it upon the additional conveyor 7. The direction of the travel of the additional conveyor 7 being opposite to that of the topmost conveyor 14 of the system 2 of the longitudinal conveyors, the web with the fibers extending laterally thereof is placed by the additional conveyor 7 directly upon the topmost conveyor 14, which latter already carries a web of fibrous material with the fibers extending longitudinally thereof, supplied by the second carding engine (not shown in the drawings). The motion of the two webs is illustrated by the respective arrow in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Thus, a two-ply web is formed on the topmost conveyor 14 of the system 2 of the longitudinal conveyors, with the fibers in the two layers, forming the web, extending in perpendicular directions. Then the conveyors l4, l5 and 16 of the system 2 of the longitudinal conveyors place the two-ply web upon the transverse conveyor, where a two-ply thick lap is formed in a manner similar to that described above for the case of forming a lap with laterally extending fibers.

Thus, as the transverse conveyor 4 moves in operation, a thick two ply lap, or web of the carded fibrous material is formed thereon, with the fibers in the two layers, or plies extending in perpendicular directions. The reinforcing fabric unrolling and spreading mechanism 19 is not used in the course of the last-described mode of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for forming a web of said material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials, said apparatus comprising: a first system of superposed longitudinal conveyors for receiving carded fibrous material; a second system of superposed longitudinal conveyors for receiving carded fibrous material, said second system of longitudinal conveyors being arranged parallel to said first system of longitudinal conveyors; a first transverse conveyor underlying the first system of longitudinal conveyors, said first system including means for laying laps of carded fibrous material on the first transverse conveyor; a second transverse conveyor underlying the second system of longitudinal conveyors; said second system including means for laying fibrous material on the second transverse conveyor; said first and said second transverse conveyors being aligned with each other such that the fibrous material in the first transverse conveyor can be placed on the second transverse conveyor; means for changing the direction of feed of a lap of fibrous material by 90 angular degrees, disposed above said second system of longitudinal conveyors; a first additional conveyor disposed intermediate said two systems of longitudinal conveyors and inclined toward said first transverse conveyor for conveying fibrous material from said first transverse conveyor towards said means for changing the direction of feed; and a second additional conveyor disposed intermediate said means for changing the direction of a lap of fibrous material by 90 angular degrees and said second system of longitudinal conveyors for feeding fibrous material fed from the first transverse conveyor via said means to the second system of longitudinal conveyors, said second additional conveyor being drivingly connected for the direction of its travel to be opposite to that of the topmost one of the conveyors of said second system of longitudinal conveyors.

2. An apparatus for treating carded fibrous material, according to claim 1, comprising means pivotably connecting the upper end portion of said inclined first additional conveyor to said means for changing the direction of feed of a lap of fibrous material by 90 angular degrees, and means connecting the bottom end portion of said inclined first additional conveyor to said first transverse conveyor for adjusting the position of said bottom end portion in a vertical plane 

1. An apparatus for treating carded fibrous material for forming a web of said material, to be used in the production of nonwoven textile materials, said apparatus comprising: a first system of superposed longitudinal conveyors for receiving carded fibrous material; a second system of superposed longitudinal conveyors for receiving carded fibrous material, said second system of longitudinal conveyors being arranged parallel to said first system of longitudinal conveyors; a first transverse conveyor underlying the first system of longitudinal conveyors, said first system including means for laying laps of carded fibrous material on the first transverse conveyor; a second transverse conveyor underlyiNg the second system of longitudinal conveyors; said second system including means for laying fibrous material on the second transverse conveyor; said first and said second transverse conveyors being aligned with each other such that the fibrous material in the first transverse conveyor can be placed on the second transverse conveyor; means for changing the direction of feed of a lap of fibrous material by 90 angular degrees, disposed above said second system of longitudinal conveyors; a first additional conveyor disposed intermediate said two systems of longitudinal conveyors and inclined toward said first transverse conveyor for conveying fibrous material from said first transverse conveyor towards said means for changing the direction of feed; and a second additional conveyor disposed intermediate said means for changing the direction of a lap of fibrous material by 90 angular degrees and said second system of longitudinal conveyors for feeding fibrous material fed from the first transverse conveyor via said means to the second system of longitudinal conveyors, said second additional conveyor being drivingly connected for the direction of its travel to be opposite to that of the topmost one of the conveyors of said second system of longitudinal conveyors.
 2. An apparatus for treating carded fibrous material, according to claim 1, comprising means pivotably connecting the upper end portion of said inclined first additional conveyor to said means for changing the direction of feed of a lap of fibrous material by 90 angular degrees, and means connecting the bottom end portion of said inclined first additional conveyor to said first transverse conveyor for adjusting the position of said bottom end portion in a vertical plane. 